It’s actors’ charges, not jealousy killing the industry – FIPAG replies Yvonne Nelson

The Film Producers Association of Ghana, FIPAG, has reacted to actress, Yvonne Nelson’s claims that the “never-ending challenges confronting Ghana’s

movie industry can be largely blamed on the lack of unity and jealousy among its stakeholders.”

It would be recalled that the actress recently spoke with Sunyani-based Suncity-97.1 Radio when she said the industry especially English-speaking movies, is currently limping on ‘one leg’ and risks a total collapse.

According to her, those in Ghollywood do not wish each other well, but rather look out for negatives to discredit each other to the detriment of the entire industry.

Also, it had earlier been reported that the FIPAG had in 2010, given Yvonne a year ban for misconduct. Yvonne’s ban was based on accumulation of several alleged incidents of her disrespectful and rude attitude towards fellow actresses, producers and crew members on location and even when off-camera.

However, in an interview with Celebritytvgh.com on Monday, Michael Ola Kwaku, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, for the association said Yvonne Nelson “doesn’t know what is going on.”

He blamed the limping of the English movie industry on the gargantuan charges of Ghanaian actors.

Kwaku said, “The truth of the matter is those in the English movie industry are actors and actors are able to get good deals for their fellow actors. For example if she, Yvonne Nelson is going to shoot a movie with Majid, I do not think Majid will charge her the same fee that Majid will charge me, Ola.

“I mean there is that kind of friendship between them. But if anybody from FIPAG should call Yvonne Nelson to shoot a movie with her, she knows how much she is going to charge the person.

“So astronomical that the person cannot even pay the rest of the crew and they do not even have basis for their charges,” the PRO added.

Speaking further, he said the actors themselves have turned producers, “there is no market as there used to be because now people prefer to watch Nigerian movies to watching English Ghanaian movies.”

Kwaku added that English movie producers do not produce movies which Ghanaians can easily relate to.

“People do not know how to relate to most of the stories produced in English because they feel they are a bit foreign and they do not reflect their living standards and situation in the country,” he noted.